fretful

comparative more fretful · superlative most fretful · alternative fretfull

1. Given to fretting.
   1. Unable to relax: fidgety; restless; worried; anxious.
   2. Irritable; bad-tempered; grumpy; peevish.

      Near-synonyms: fractious, petulant, waspish, impatient, angry, annoyed

      3 more examples

      I could a Tale vnfold, vvhoſe lighteſt vvord / VVould harrovv vp thy ſoule, freeze thy young blood, / Make thy tvvo eyes like Starres, ſtart from their Spheres, / Thy knotty and combined locks to part, / And each particular haire to ſtand an end, / Like Quilles vpon the fretfull Porpentine: […]

      c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene v], page 257, column 2

      It was another cry, but not quite like the one she had heard last night; it was only a short one, a fretful, childish whine muffled by passing through walls.

      1910 November – 1911 August, Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden, New York, N.Y.: Frederick A[bbott] Stokes Company, published 1911, →OCLC

      [Nick] Bostrom, the philosopher, expressed a sort of resignation about the AI future when we spoke. He used to call himself a “fretful optimist,” he said, but now he’s a “moderate fatalist.”

      2026 April 3, Matteo Wong, Lila Shroff, “Silicon Valley Is in a Frenzy Over Bots That Build Themselves”, in Jeffrey Goldberg, editor, The Atlantic, Washington, D.C.: The Atlantic Monthly Group, →ISSN, →OCLC

      Synonyms: fractious, petulant, waspish, impatient, angry, annoyed · Antonyms: calm, meek, patient, forbearing, contented, resigned, uncomplaining